Editing Ikora Rey

|notable= Champion of the [[Crucible]] <br> Leader of [[the Hidden]]

She started her career as an iconoclastic Guardian, with a reputation for being outspoken and impatient with the dogma of her peers. She had a very colorful life on the battlefield, whether fighting in the [[Crucible]] or doing solo missions and getting shot down repeatedly, surviving against all odds. Her experience gave her a wealth of knowledge and newfound respect among her fellow Warlocks.<ref>'''Bungie (2014/9/9)''', ''[[Destiny]], [[Grimoire]]: [[Grimoire:Allies#Warlock_Vanguard|Warlock Vanguard]]''</ref> Even so, she apparently has a reputation for being scary, including a rumor that she can turn people into frogs.{{Citation needed}}

 

Eventually, Ikora became a student of the Warlock [[Vanguard]] [[Osiris]], arguably his greatest one. However, after her mentor's arrogance and obsession with the Vex grew out of control, she was forced to secretly take over many of his duties as Vanguard. Eventually, his focus on the Vex caused the Last City's other leaders to convene a meeting of the [[Consensus]] without Osiris present. The [[Speaker]] asked Ikora to take over officially as Warlock Vanguard, which she accepted. The Speaker then announced that he was exiling Osiris for his failure to serve the Last City and putting Guardians lives at risk chasing after Vex secrets. With no objections, Osiris was officially exiled and his post as Vanguard Commander was taken over by [[Zavala]].<ref>'''Bungie (2017/5/12)''', ''[[Destiny 2]]: [[Curse of Osiris]], [[Curse of Foresight]]''</ref>

Ikora then went to confront her old mentor in the Underwatch of the Tower and inform him of the Consensus' decision. She demanded that they needed to talk, but Osiris did not turn around and simply commented that he was surprised that she came alone and asked if she had learned confidence. Angered by his arrogance, Ikora claimed that she had, but not from him. Osiris claimed he knew why she was there, proclaiming that their confrontation and his banishment had been prophesied. Ikora noted that he had plenty of warning then, causing Osiris' Ghost, [[Sagira]], to lash out at Ikora, proclaiming that she and the rest of the Last City stood no chance against the Darkness without Osiris. He claimed that Ikora knew that was true but would not admit it, but Ikora denied this and stated that winning under his terms was no victory. She then bid her former mentor farwell and turned to leave,<ref>'''Bungie (2017/5/12)''', ''[[Destiny 2]]: [[Curse of Osiris]], [[Sol Pariah 6]]''</ref> but was stopped by Sagira, who demanded to know if Ikora was really just going to let the Vanguard exile Osiris after all he had done for her and teaching her everything she knew. Ikora angrily retorted that he had only taught her all he knew, causing Sagira to claim she would still be wasting time in the Crucible with Shaxx without Osiris. Ikora warned her not to insult the Crucible, as it had once been her home in the Last City. Sagira claimed that Ikora had wasted her talent there and that she owed Osiris loyalty on his quest against the Vex for making her more than a champion, causing Ikora to end the conversation and walk away.<ref>'''Bungie (2017/5/12)''', ''[[Destiny 2]]: [[Curse of Osiris]], [[Sagira's Shell]]''</ref>

As Osiris prepared to leave the Last City for [[Mercury]], Ikora met her former mentor one last time in the Tower's hanger as he readied the ''[[Sails of Osiris]]'' for launch. She suggested that he allow Shipmaster [[Cesar Hiponia]] to inspect the ship before Osiris left, causing the older Warlock to smile and note that she was always thinking ahead, which made her a fine leader. Ikora told him that was why she had to stay and lead as he once did, but he argued that the [[Infinite Forest]] on Mercury could be the key to simulating a path to their victory and understanding the Darkness. Ikora interrupted him, noting that while she wished him well in his quest, she feared his obsession would be his undoing, and that she was choosing to stay and fight for what was real.<ref>'''Bungie (2017/5/12)''', ''[[Destiny 2]]: [[Curse of Osiris]], [[Sails of Osiris]]''</ref>

Ikora and the Vanguard eventually determined that the [[Ahamkara]] on [[Venus]] had grown too powerful from the wishes they granted to Guardians, as they had gained the strength to create paracausal rifts in space and time on the planet. They initiated the [[Great Ahamkara Hunt]] to drive the Wish-Dragons into extinction and end their threat to humanity.  

 

 

At one point during the Hunt, Ikora teamed with the Hunter [[Eris Morn]] to fight an entire army of Ahamkara. After an hour-long battle they left a mile long path of corpses behind them. Ikora utilized the Light to float above her fallen foes to think clearer due to the whispers of the Ahamkara bones. Eris questioned what they had offered her, and Ikora told the Hunter that she suspected it was much the same as what had been offered to her. She grew concerned when Eris commented that everything the Ahamkara said was true and that they showed her life before she was a Guardian. Ikora cautioned Eris that such thoughts led to morbid places and asked her to focus on gathering Light to destroy the bones. The two summoned a storm of [[Arc]] energy to finish their foes, which caused the whispers to grow louder until they could hear them even over the storm.<ref>'''Bungie (2018/9/4)''', ''[[Destiny 2]]: [[Forsaken]], [[Armor of the Great Hunt (Hunter)#Strides of the Great Hunt|Strides of the Great Hunt]]''</ref>

 

Ikora was present during the [[Great Disaster]]. The Guardians used the same group tactics against the Hive that they used against the Ahamkara. However, they were unaware of the [[Sword Logic]] which ultimately led to their defeat.<ref name="THD 8">'''[[The Hidden Dossier]]''', ''pg [[The Hidden Dossier#((08))|8]]''</ref>

After the murder of Hunter Vanguard [[Andal Brask]] at the hands of the notorious Fallen mercenary [[Taniks, the Scarred]], Ikora attended a parade thrown in celebration of [[Cayde-6]] killing Taniks in retribution. She stood by Zavala as Cayde was carried away by the crowd, and the Vanguard Commander commented that Taniks had been believed dead before. Ikora recommended that Zavala let the new Hunter Vanguard bask in his victory and that he had earned it.<ref>'''Bungie (2020/11/10)''', ''[[Destiny 2]]: [[Beyond Light]] - [[Lore]]: [[Lore:The Dark Future#Chapter 9: The Return|The Dark Future - Chapter 9: The Return]]''</ref>

 

At some as Ikora became a teacher and leader for the Last City, she distanced herself from Ophiuchus, and nearly lost her relationship with him.<ref name="THD 8"<ref/>

Ikora welcomed a [[The Guardian|newly risen Guardian]] from the [[Cosmodrome]] in [[Old Russia]] to the Tower and provided them with basic supplies and [[Glimmer]]. She also directed them to speak with [[Banshee-44]] to get an upgrade for their weapon.<ref>'''Bungie (2014/9/9)''', ''[[Destiny]], [[Quest]]: [[A Warlock Rises]]''</ref> This new Warlock eventually discovered evidence in the Cosmodrome that the [[Warmind]] [[Rasputin]] was still alive and active in Old Russia. Ikora was elated by this discovery and declared that nothing in the Cosmodrome mattered more than the Warmind.<ref>'''Bungie (2014/9/9)''', ''[[Destiny]], [[Grimoire]]: [[Grimoire:Activities/Story: Earth, Old Russia#The Warmind|The Warmind]]''</ref> Ikora met with the new Guardian again and asked them to investigate the Warmind network's communication arrays in the Cosmodrome. She warned them that [[Dead Orbit]] had sent scouts there to investigate but that they had never returned, and she wished to know their fate as well as what Rasputin might be planning. The Guardian succeeded in reactivating the arrays, but the three Dead Orbit Guardians were found dead and Rasputin took control of the array and locked the Vanguard out. Ikora was fascinated that the Guardian had made contact with the Warmind, and directed them to report back to Zavala, who had another mission for them.<ref name="NLBTF">'''Bungie (2014/9/9)''', ''[[Destiny]], [[Quest]]: [[Nothing Left But The Fall]]''</ref>

After the Guardian raided [[The World's Grave]] in the [[Hive]]'s tunnels beneath the [[Moon]], Ikora was pleased to finally have a chance to learn the greatest secrets and goals of the Hive. She worked alongside the [[Cryptarch]]y to decode the stolen information.<ref>'''Bungie (2014/9/9)''', ''[[Destiny]], [[Grimoire]]: [[Grimoire:Activities/Story: Moon, Ocean of Storms#The World's Grave|The World's Grave]]''</ref> The Guardian soon disrupted a Hive ritual that was using a fragment of the Traveler to drain its Light, which restored the fragment and helped restore some Light to the sleeping entity. Ikora was deeply interested in the implications of the ritual, noting that they seemingly confirmed the controversial Warlock [[Ulan-Tan]]'s theory that all Light was connected, but she also worried that the servants of the Darkness could use that connection against them.<ref>'''Bungie (2014/9/9)''', ''[[Destiny]], [[Grimoire]]: [[Grimoire:Activities/Story: Moon, Ocean of Storms#Chamber of Night|Chamber of Night]]''</ref> Ikora later sensed a Hive abomination being raised within the Hellmouth, and ordered the Guardian to take a strike team down into the Hive's Summoning Pits and destroy it. The strike team succeeded in destroying the [[Ogre]] [[Phogoth, the Untamed]], and while Ikora was pleased by its end, she wondered how many more abominations the Hive were creating throughout the universe.<ref>'''Bungie (2014/9/9)''', ''[[Destiny]], [[Strike]]: [[The Summoning Pits]]''</ref>

Ikora also met with her friend and Hidden agent [[Eris Morn]], who feared that the Hive's recent activity was indicating they would soon make another attempt to claim the Earth. She learned from Eris that the Hive God Prince [[Crota, Son of Oryx|Crota]]'s top general [[Omnigul, Will of Crota|Omnigul]] was present and active on Earth. Questioning why the [[Wizard]] was there, Ikora asked her friend to speak plainly and not in riddles, and Eris stated that she believed they sought Rasputin in the ruins of the Cosmodrome. Worried, Ikora noted that although Rasputin had yet to ally with the Vanguard and did not even talk with them, she believed he seemed just and on humanity's side. They discussed the Hive's goals, and concluded that they did not seek to destroy Rasputin, but rather corrupt him and bring him onto their side, which they feared would be the end of everything in the system. Ikora swore to make the Vanguard and the Speaker listen despite their distrust of Eris, but the Hunter believed it too late for that. Ikora decided that she needed help then from another Guardian, and convinced a weary Eris that her own battles in the field were done with the loss of her Ghost and that she must allow another brave soul to fight the Hive in her stead. She also promised Eris that she would ensure that she was welcome in the Tower despite the other leaders concerns.<ref>'''Bungie (2014/12/9)''', ''[[Destiny]]: [[The Dark Below]], [[Grimoire]]: [[Grimoire:Enemies/Hive#Ghost Fragment: Hive 3|Ghost Fragment: Hive 3]]''</ref>

Ikora ordered the Guardian to carry out another strike on [[Venus]] in the Vex tunnels beneath the [[Ishtar Academy]]. She briefed the team on their target, a [[Vex Mind]] known as [[Sekrion, Nexus Mind]], which was a world-eating machine that was charged with the transformation of Venus into a Vex world. Once the Nexus Mind was destroyed, Ikora noted that this did not halt the conversion of Venus, as the Vex still had other minds throughout the world that the Guardians could not reach, and that they must continue to pursue their enemy into the depths of the world.<ref>'''Bungie (2014/9/9)''', ''[[Destiny]], [[Strike]]: [[The Nexus]]''</ref>

 

The Guardian later came to Ikora for aiding in finding a way to wake the Eye of a Vex [[Gate Lord]] in order to gain access to the [[Black Garden]] and destroy the Darkness at its heart. She informed them that her Hidden agents had found a way to attune the eye to the gate of the Black Garden by using a Vex Spire on [[Mars]]. However, the only one that Ikora knew of that was above ground was also in the middle of a Cabal war camp. The Guardian soon returned with the wakened Eye, and Ikora complimented their [[The Ghost|Ghost]] on a job well done. However, she cautioned the Guardian that while they could now open the gate to the Black Garden, they must ensure their will was ready for such a task.<ref>'''Bungie (2014/9/9)''', ''[[Destiny]], [[Quest]]: [[Fruit of the Garden]]''</ref> The Vex began invading Freehold in an effort to protect the Black Garden. The Guardian shut down their transfer gates, and successfully prevented the area from being overrun. Ikora sensed a pattern between the invasion, the Black Garden, and the Vault of Glass, and was determined to know more.<ref>'''Bungie (2014/9/9)''', ''[[Destiny]], [[Grimoire]]: [[Grimoire:Activities/Story: Mars, Meridian Bay#A Rising Tide|A Rising Tide]]''</ref>

The Guardian's will proved true and they destroyed the [[Black Heart]] at the center of the Garden, bringing it back into reality on Mars. Following this victory, Ikora gathered with Zavala, Cayde, and dozens of other Guardians in the Tower plaza to hear the Speaker's address on this great victory.<ref>'''Bungie (2014/9/9)''', ''[[Destiny]], [[Missions|Mission]]: [[The Black Garden]]''</ref>

Despite this victory, Ikora was ordered by Zavala to go over the reports of the Guardian's mission into the Black Garden and give him an assessment of possible remaining threats. Amused by her friend's constant worry, Ikora nevertheless compiled her report. In it, she theorized that the Vex had discovered the Black Heart and its power but were unable to understand it, and thus turned to worship as a way of receiving empowerment. Ikora also believed that the [[Sol Progeny]] had been constructed solely to be vessels of power and will for the abomination, and that if it had been left unattended it could have unleashed horrors upon the galaxy. She also noted that there was great hope in the fact that the Black Heart could only activate one of the Sol Progeny at a time, and that it was threatened by the Light of a single Guardian. Lastly, Ikora concluded that the Black Heart was but a piece of the Darkness and that it acted through the Sol Progeny much as the Traveler did through its Guardians. She speculated that there could be more pieces of the Darkness out there acting through similar vessels.<ref>'''Bungie (2014/12/9)''', ''[[Destiny]]: [[The Dark Below]], [[Grimoire]]: [[Grimoire:Enemies/Vex Axis Minds#Sol Progeny|Sol Progeny]]''</ref>

Although the Black Garden was now settled into reality on Mars, Ikora worried that the Vex would attempt to pull it out of time once more. She met with Zavala and Cayde, and stated that she believed that [[The Undying Mind]] was attempting to undo the destruction of the Black Heart. Ikora was determined that the keep the Garden in reality where the Light could touch it so that they could continue mapping its pathways with the data files recovered from the Ishtar Collective. The others agreed, and Zavala authorized a strike to eliminate the Vex mind.<ref>'''Bungie (2014/12/9)''', ''[[Destiny]]: [[The Dark Below]], [[Grimoire]]: [[Grimoire:Enemies/Vex Axis Minds#The Undying Mind|The Undying Mind]]''</ref> Ikora ordered the Guardian to lead the strike and prevent the Black Garden from being resealed. The team destroyed the Undying Mind deep within the pathways of the Black Garden, and Ikora thanked them for ensuring its continued presence in reality. However, she worried that the Vex would never cease their efforts to take back the Black Garden and was determined to hold it in reality until the Vanguard had learned all of its secrets.<ref>'''Bungie (2014/12/9)''', ''[[Destiny]]: [[The Dark Below]], [[Strike]]: [[The Undying Mind (strike)|The Undying Mind]]''</ref>

[[File:TakenKingZavala.jpg|thumb|350px|Ikora, Zavala and Cayde planning the incoming threat of the Dreadnaught.]]

 

 

 

Ikora was apprised of a group calling themselves the [[Shadows of Yor]] who were using copies of [[Thorn]], the infamous weapon of the murderous Guardian known as [[Dredgen Yor]]. Concerned about their ruthless behavior in the Crucible after the results of a match on [[Blind Watch]], Ikora approached Lord Shaxx and informed him of her worries that the Shadows could be following too closely in Yor's footsteps and that they should be watched. Shaxx agreed, but believed that [[Dredgen Vale|Zyre Orsa]], one of the leaders of the Shadows, had managed to contain the Darkness where Yor had failed. Ikora believed that a dangerous assumption and noted that the Thorn's presence in the Crucible was becoming ever more widespread.<ref>'''Bungie (2016/9/20)''', ''[[Destiny]]: [[Rise of Iron]], [[Grimoire]]: [[Grimoire:Activities/Crucible Arenas#Ghost Fragment: Blind Watch|Ghost Fragment: Blind Watch]]''</ref> Ikora later met with [[Shin Malphur]], Dredgen Yor's killer, after he saw footage of the Shadows of Yor in a match at [[Widow's Court]]. He was worried Ikora and the Vanguard were not taking the threat the Shadows represented seriously enough, and she attempted to reassure him that she shared his concerns and was monitoring the situation, but that given his past with Yor and all that he had lost to the killer and his Thorn, he might not be unbiased in how he viewed the Shadows' actions. Shin refuted that assertion and told Ikora that the Shadows were playing with death.<ref>'''Bungie (2016/9/20)''', ''[[Destiny]]: [[Rise of Iron]], [[Grimoire]]: [[Grimoire:Activities/Crucible Arenas#Ghost Fragment: Widow's Court|Ghost Fragment: Widow's Court]]''</ref>

On the anniversary of the [[Battle of Six Fronts]], the Last City and its Guardians were preparing to celebrate the unity of the City and foundation of the Vanguard.<ref>'''Bungie:''' ''[https://www.bungie.net/en/News/Article/47017 Solstice of Heroes development update]'', 7/17/2018</ref> Instead of preparing for the celebrations, Ikora met with Zavala and Cayde in the Hall of Guardians and reported to them that all of the Skyline Defense Systems had been sabotaged, while Cayde noted that their comms network had been spotty for several hours. While attempting to get more information from the Last City's orbital satellites, Ikora realized that they were no longer there, and Zavala ordered everyone to battle stations as Cabal warships suddenly emerged from the storm clouds around the Last City. As the Tower came under heavy missile bombardment, Ikora grabbed Cayde and teleported him to safety inside Zavala's [[Ward of Dawn]] just before he was crushed by falling debris. Surviving the bombardment, Ikora, Zavala, and Cayde spread out through the Tower to defend it from assault. The Young Wolf soon joined the battle, and Ikora informed the defending Guardians that the Cabal they were facing were the [[Red Legion]], which according to her sources had never known defeat. Zavala ordered all Guardians to rally in the plaza, but Ikora protested that the Red Legion were assaulting the Traveler with an [[Traveler Cage|unknown device]]. She was told by the Commander that they had to defend the City and its people first.<ref name="HC">'''Bungie (2017/9/8)''', ''[[Destiny 2]], [[Missions|Mission]]: [[Homecoming]]''</ref>

Ikora and the others defended the plaza until the last evacuation shuttles extracted the civilians from the Tower, but the Speaker never arrived to be evacuated. Ikora went to his tower to find him, but discovered the Red Legion had gotten there first and captured him before destroying his quarters. Enraged, Ikora killed several legionaries with a [[Nova Bomb]] as the Young Wolf arrived to assist her. Explaining the situation to her fellow Guardian, Ikora turned her attention to an approaching [[Thresher]]. Utilizing her Light, Ikora leaped upon the Cabal ship and crippled it with another Nova Bomb, declaring that the Red Legion would take no more from the Last City as she rode the failing ship down to the battle below.<ref name="HC"/> Utilizing her Void abilities, Ikora [[Blink]]ed to a [[Interceptor]] and threw three Vortex grenades into its vents before Blinking to another Harvester and shooting its antigravity cores with her shotgun, [[Invective]]. She then blinked to another Interceptor and looked back at the Traveler, which had become encased in the Cabal's cage. Infuriated at the Red Legion's blasphemy and their assault on her friends, Ikora unleashed a Nova Bomb onto the ship she was riding. As she leapt off to Blink to another Cabal vessel, she was severed from the Light and began plummeting towards the ground. As Ikora struggled to understand what had happened, she quickly emptied her clip into the supports of a billboard below her, causing it to collapse towards a nearby roof. She slammed into the hard metal and rolled to safety on the roof, although her shoulder was dislocated by the hard landing. Even with her injuries, Ikora's rage led her to stand up and go hunting for her next target.<ref>'''Bungie (2018/7/31)''', ''[[Destiny 2]]: [[Solstice of Heroes]], [[Rekindled Solstice Armor (Warlock)#Solstice Hood (Rekindled)|Solstice Hood (Rekindled)]]''</ref>

Ikora managed to escape from the occupied Last City, but did not join Zavala in his retreat to [[Titan (moon)|Titan]]. Her first act was to send a message to all of her Hidden agents, instructing them to go into hiding at their safehouses and wait for the Red Legion to become complacent before conducting operations against them, as they could not afford to risk their lives now on foolhardy missions without Light to resurrect themselves. She included two direct messages for specific agents into her missive, with the first telling [[Chalco Yong]] that she had been right about the Guardians losing sight of keeping an eye out for unknown threats and reassured her it would not happen again. Her second message was to Eris, hoping that she was still alive on her quest for information about the Hive and reassuring her that there would be a home for her to return to when she came back. She ended the message with another general order to all of the Hidden to wait for her word, and that they all knew what to do should it never come.<ref>'''Bungie (2018/7/31)''', ''[[Destiny 2]]: [[Solstice of Heroes]], [[Rekindled Solstice Armor (Warlock)#Solstice Gloves (Rekindled)|Solstice Gloves (Rekindled)]]''</ref>

Desperate for answers and seeking to regain her Light, Ikora travelled to the [[Shard of the Traveler]] in the [[European Dead Zone]] in an attempt to regain her lost powers. Fighting through elements of the [[House of Dusk]] that inhabited the [[Blackened Forest]], she carefully and methodically eliminated all the Fallen guarding the Shard. Once they were dead, Ikora approached the Shard and touched it, but it remained inert and did not restore her connection to the Light. Confused and angry, Ikora eventually calmed down and resolved to find answers elsewhere, and decided to travel to [[Io]], a moon of [[Jupiter]] and the last place the [[Traveler]] had touched before the [[Collapse]].<ref>'''Bungie (2018/7/31)''', ''[[Destiny 2]]: [[Solstice of Heroes]], [[Rekindled Solstice Armor (Warlock)#Solstice Robes (Rekindled)|Solstice Robes (Rekindled)]]''</ref>

Stealing a Red Legion ship, Ikora flew to Io and landed on the [[Echo Mesa]], near the [[Cradle]] where the Traveler had settled to terraform the moon. Stepping onto the surface of Io for the first time without Light felt wrong to Ikora, but her sense of unease turned to anger as she watched three Red Legion Harvesters fly overhead. Infuriated that the Red Legion were desecrating another sacred location. Taking quick stock of her supplies, Ikora resolved to avoid the [[Vex]] presence on the moon and head for the Red Legion stronghold [[Terrabase Charon]] and make them pay for their transgressions, even if it cost Ikora her final life.<ref>'''Bungie (2018/7/31)''', ''[[Destiny 2]]: [[Solstice of Heroes]], [[Rekindled Solstice Armor (Warlock)#Solstice Boots (Rekindled)|Solstice Boots (Rekindled)]]''</ref> Her campaign against the Cabal consumed her, and Ikora lost track of how long she stalked and murdered their patrols. During one battle against the Red Legion, she lost Invective after emptying its last ammo into a [[Interceptor]] and bludgeoning a [[Psion]] to death with its stock. Abandoning her broken weapon by a guard tower, Ikora treated her numerous wounds and removed shrapnel she had taken in one of the battles. Near death, Ikora realized none of her actions had halted the Cabal's actions on Io and regretted her ill-advised assaults. Passing out, Ikora awoke to find herself staring at the Cradle. Walking to the cliffs edge, Ikora resolved to wait for someone else to arrive before taking further action.<ref>'''Bungie (2018/7/31)''', ''[[Destiny 2]]: [[Solstice of Heroes]], [[Rekindled Solstice Armor (Warlock)#Solstice Bond (Rekindled)|Solstice Bond (Rekindled)]]''</ref>

Although the Vanguard was victorious against the Red Legion, threats to humanity remained throughout the system. Ikora was contacted by one of her Hidden agents on Io who claimed to have seen the [[Taken]] interacting with Vex, but the agent then went silent. She requested that the Young Wolf investigate the matter, believing it could be connected to the Ascendant portal they had managed to prevent from opening. They discovered that the Taken were capturing Vex, causing Ikora to ponder if they were attempting to Take them, but Asher believed that would be impossible without a King to guide the Taken. She rebuked her fellow Warlock's certainty, noting that the impossible often happened. The Young Wolf continued their investigation and discovered [[Ir Arok, Tongue of Quria]] was leading the Taken on Io but retreated when confronted. Ikora was surprised that the Knight had the sense to retreat, and worried that others besides [[Oryx, the Taken King|Oryx]] could have the power to Take.<ref>'''Bungie (2017/9/8)''', ''[[Destiny 2]], [[Quests (Destiny 2)|Quest]]: [[Dynasty]] - [[Premeditation]]''</ref>

Tracking Ir Arok to the Cabal Warbase ruins at [[Excavation Site II]], Ikora warned the Young Wolf that her Hidden had yet to penetrate the facility and scout it. Asher also retracted his previous statements on the Taken, noting he could feel them manipulating the Vex through his arm. Within the base, the Young Wolf reported finding holding cells for the Vex, and Ikora berated Asher for joking that the Taken had invented law and order while cautioning the Young Wolf to be careful and that she only had one of them. The cells transformed the captured Vex into Taken, vindicating Ikora's theory, but Asher believed it to be suicidal, as the Vex infected whatever they touched and could take over the Taken. Ikora believed that it was a calculated risk on the part of the Taken, and that they were attempting to build an army. She directed the Young Wolf to meet with Asher and formulate a plan to stop the Taken.<ref>'''Bungie (2017/9/8)''', ''[[Destiny 2]], [[Quests (Destiny 2)|Quest]]: [[Dynasty]] - [[Calculated Action]]''</ref>

The Taken had turned their attention to the [[Pyramidion]], which Ir Arok intended to use to Take the entire Vex Collective. Ikora and Asher sent the Young Wolf to stop their plan, and she warned them that if Ir Arok succeeded, the Taken could unleash devastation across the solar system. Asher pointed out that losing the Young Wolf would devastate the Last City so soon after the Red War. The Young Wolf succeeded in their task and killed Ir Arok, but reported that some Taken managed to make it through a warp gate into the Pyramidion. Ikora was pleased with the result, and noted that they may have prevented another major war with the Taken from beginning with this victory. She vowed to monitor the Taken and Vex's activity on Io to ensure that further attempts to consume the Vex collective were not made, and that she would inform the Young Wolf if one was.<ref>'''Bungie (2017/9/8)''', ''[[Destiny 2]], [[Quests (Destiny 2)|Quest]]: [[Dynasty]] - [[The Long Play]]''</ref>

{{Quote|When the Red Legion attacked, it almost cost us everything. It took a miracle to save us… the awakening of the Traveler. This is our new beginning. The maps are blank. The rules are gone. All we know is we must become more than what we were. This small corner of the cosmos is the only place that is forever ours. And the universe watches us with envious eyes. We've proven we can fight threats from beyond the stars. But now there are things stirring beneath our feet… provoked by the Traveler's Light. Our war… is just beginning.|Ikora, near the start of the new Golden Age}}<ref name="The Gateway">'''Bungie (2017/12/5)''', ''[[Destiny 2]]: [[Curse of Osiris]], [[Missions|Mission]]: [[The Gateway]]''</ref>

As the City began to rebuild under the awakened Traveler, Ikora met with the other members of the [[Consensus]] to discuss the governing of the City. When Executor [[Hideo]] objected that they could not be called to order without a Speaker, Ikora prevented Cayde-6 from escaping the meeting and declared that they had to meet despite what the bylaws said. [[Lakshmi-2]] asked if there was a protocol for choosing a new Speaker, and after Zavala revealed that there was not one, Ikora advocated amending the bylaws to create such a process. Zavala declared that until they had a new Speaker, they would all govern together and forge their own consensus without a Speaker's aid.<ref name="PBC">'''Bungie (2017/12/5)''', ''[[Destiny 2]]: [[Curse of Osiris]], Item Description, [[Peace by Consensus]]''</ref>

At a subsequent meeting of the Consensus, Ikora was agitated that Zavala and Hideo brought the Hunter [[Ariadne Gris]] before them to investigate whether the dragon she had painted on her Sparrow indicated that she worshiped or had come into contact with [[Ahamkara]]. When Zavala asked for her opinion on the matter, Ikora admitted that she had stopped paying attention and could not believe the meeting was still going, causing Arach [[Jalaal]] to laugh. Ikora concluded that Ariadne's poor win/loss record in the [[Sparrow Racing League]] was proof enough that the Hunter did not have contact with a wish dragon, leading to the Consensus' official declaration that the dragon symbol was merely "cool".<ref>'''Bungie (2017/9/8)''', ''[[Destiny 2]], Item Description, [[Dinas Emrys]]''</ref>

The awakening of the Traveler caused Ikora to reexamine all of her old research, particularly her twelve volume series "On Circles". Foregoing field work, Ikora spent long periods studying in her hidden private library. One day, [[Chalco Yong]], a member of Ikora's Hidden, snuck into the library to see what Ikora was doing. Without stopping her research, Ikora acknowledged her friend and noted that she had to completely rewrite all twelve books in the series due to the Traveler awakening and changing their understanding of physics. Chalco was skeptical that the Traveler would so radically change their understanding of circles, causing Ikora to finally look at her and state that especially their conception of circles had changed.<ref>'''Bungie (2017/12/5)''', ''[[Destiny 2]]: [[Curse of Osiris]], [[Vesper of Radius]]''</ref>

With the new revelations about the nature of the Vex, Ikora began furthering her research of them. She was disappointed that the Young Wolf's presence at the beginning of the Infinite Forest did not reveal an understanding of the Vex. As she pondered the nature of the radiolarian fluid and dismissed it as being the Vex's consciousness, Ikora wondered if she had discounted Lakshmi-2 and the [[Future War Cult]]'s device too quickly since the key to understanding the Vex might be exploring their ability to predict and simulate timelines. She turned to her Ghost, [[Ophiuchus]], and asked their opinion, catching her companion off guard as they had not spoken in more than sixty-one years. Ikora noted that they were friends once, and that she was ready to hear Ophiuchus' opinion again.<ref>'''Bungie (2017/12/5)''', ''[[Destiny 2]]: [[Curse of Osiris]], [[Universal Wavefunction]]''</ref>

Ikora would suffer a personal loss after Cayde-6, her friend and fireteam comrade, was murdered by the formerly missing Awoken Prince, [[Uldren Sov]] and the [[Scorn]], an army of morbid and grotesque [[Fallen]] under his command and that of seven Barons. Cayde and the Guardian arrived in the Reef to aid the Awoken in containing the chaos that engulfed the [[Prison of Elders]] but as the Scorn escaped their cells, Cayde found himself surrounded and beaten. Worse, his Ghost [[Sundance]] was destroyed and his personal weapon, the [[Ace of Spades]], stolen by Uldren. Within his final moments, the Hunter Vanguard was killed by Uldren who then departed to spread chaos throughout the [[Reef]].<ref name="LC">'''Bungie (2018/9/4)''', ''[[Destiny 2]]: [[Forsaken]], [[Missions|Mission]]: [[Last Call]]''</ref>

The months following Cayde's death and the subsequent events in the Reef left the Vanguard uncertain about their future direction. Ikora believed that her and Zavala's grief over the loss of Cayde, combined with their additional duties helping govern the Last City since the Speaker's demise, had impacted their ability to lead and shaken confidence in them amongst the Guardians. She and Zavala felt that their primary duty as warriors was not being met by their position and both considered potentially stepping down from their respective positions to let new leadership arise, or even disband the Vanguard entirely. Ikora informed her Hidden of these discussions, but noted that such drastic action would not be taken without consulting them, the Consensus, and the rest of the Guardians, but also instructed them to take whatever action they felt necessary if they believed the Vanguard had begun to do more harm than good. In the meantime she and Zavala sought to find a Hunter to assume Cayde's place in the Vanguard, as the terms of his Dare granting the position to whomever was responsible for his death led them to disregard it lest they be forced to offer the position to [[Savathûn, the Witch-Queen]], who had been responsible for manipulating Uldren and the Scorn. Instead, they wished to gather the most capable Hunters together and find a worthy candidate amongst them, although all the Hunters who would be qualified had fled the Tower to avoid being considered for the dreaded position.<ref>'''Bungie (2019/3/5)''', ''[[Destiny 2]]: [[Season of the Drifter]], [[Lore]]: [[Lore:Stolen Intelligence#Instability|Stolen Intelligence - Instability]]''</ref>

Ikora learned from Master [[Rahool]] that one of his students, [[Lavinia Garcia Umr Tawil]], had become obsessed with the [[Nine]]. When she received an alert that Lavinia had broken into the ruins of the Tower, she arrived to find two New Monarchy Guardians attacking her for stealing an [[Ahamkara]] bone from a secure vault. Outraged that Guardians would attack a mortal, Ikora drove them off and warned them to never assault a normal human again. However, she then turned her fury to Lavinia and demanded she release the bone, which the young Cryptarch did with considerable effort. Ikora warned her that the bone had called her and asked if she made a wish for knowledge about the Nine, but Lavinia stated had been trying to track the bone back to its source and discover why the Nine needed Ahamkara. Curious and angry, Ikora questioned what the young scholar meant, and Lavinia theorized that whatever the Nine got from the wishes they were now getting through Guardians trading with [[Xûr, Agent of the Nine|Xûr]]. Exasperated, Ikora warned Lavinia that if she kept digging there would be consequences, but the Cryptarch pleaded for Ikora to help her and declared she knew the Consensus was covering up connections between the Nine, Ahamkara, the [[Trials of the Nine]], and Ghaul's attack on the Tower. Cutting her off, Ikora offered Lavinia a choice between returning to school and allowing Ikora to forget this incident, or reporting her for the theft and being exiled. The young scholar rejected the offer and vowed to continue her research, leading Ikora to arrest her and eventually have a tribunal exile her from the Last City.<ref>'''Bungie (2019/3/5)''', ''[[Destiny 2]]: [[Season of the Drifter]], [[Lore]]: [[Lore:Dust#The Bone|Dust - The Bone]]''</ref>

When [[Aunor Mahal]] leaked a dozen Hidden reports through the rewards Zavala handed out to Guardians for strike duty, Ikora managed to redact a few before they were read. She later joined Zavala in the Tower's Bazaar as a rainstorm engulfed the City and most citizens sought shelter. As they sat on a building ledge and stared out at the Last City, Ikora informed Zavala of Aunor's actions, and he remarked that Aunor and Ikora were quite similar. Ikora agreed, and when he asked what she wanted him to do about it, Ikora stated Aunor was her agent and she would deal with it, but that Aunor was also quite capable and that they owed her and the rest of the Guardians more than they had been giving them recently. Zavala agreed, but stated the reverse was true as well, causing Ikora to chuckle and note that was correct. However, Ikora believed that they were not providing them with examples that they wanted to follow and that too many Guardians mistrusted them at the moment. Her friend hoped that mistrust would soon pass, but resolved to be better all the same as they stared at the inert Traveler. After a moment of silence, Ikora quietly stated that she wished Cayde was there with them, and Zavala placed a comforting hand on her knee as he sadly echoed that sentiment.<ref>'''Bungie (2019/3/5)''', ''[[Destiny 2]]: [[Season of the Drifter]], [[Oxygen SR3]]''</ref>

Several months later, Ikora was informed by one of her Hidden agents that the [[Leviathan]] had dispatched a barge to the surface of [[Nessus]]. She was soon approached by the Young Wolf, who revealed that they had been sent an invitation from the Cabal [[Emperor Calus]] via [[Benedict 99-40]], a [[Frame]] that had been remotely hijacked by the Emperor, which stated there was a gift awaiting them on Nessus. Ikora decided that she would not stop the Young Wolf from investigating the barge and invitation, but she would not let them pursue it alone. She subsequently notified other Guardians of the barge's location and of the possible manipulations of Calus.<ref>'''Bungie (2019/6/4)''', ''[[Destiny 2]]: [[Season of Opulence]], [[The Invitation]]''</ref>

After the Guardians managed to learn what they needed to combat the Nightmares, Ikora herself comes to the moon to gaze upon the [[The Lunar Pyramid|Pyramid]] with her own eyes. The Warlock Vanguard wonders how long the Pyramid had been hidden beneath Luna's surface, how long it had been watching. Regardless, Eris arrives and though Ikora voices that she feels responsible for sending her to Luna, Eris brushes her concern knowing that she didn't come to apologize. Ikora only states that she was right, that the those that caused the Collapse are coming back and that the Vanguard is at her disposal. Quietly, she asks the Guardian to provide Eris with whatever she needs.

Following the Guardians successful missions that ended the Red Legions schemes in subverting Time and turning ''[[The Almighty]]'' into a kamikaze weapon, the Vanguard soon receives reports of Pyramid-shaped vessels over nearly every world in the Solar System. The Last City and its officials take this as confirmation of their worst fears: the [[Black Fleet]] has returned. Worse, Rasputin himself had been disabled by the [[The Ionian Pyramid|Ionian Pyramid]], depriving the City of a powerful ally. As Guardians work with Eris Morn in discerning what the Pyramid's intentions are, and that of the Darkness', Ikora takes part in organizing the Last City's defense with Zavala.   

The Vanguard soon received reports of another [[The Europan Pyramid|Pyramid]] on the moon of [[Europa]] and dispatched the Young Wolf to investigate. They soon learned that a the new Fallen [[House of Salvation]] was active on the moon and had acquired the Darkness infused power of [[Stasis]]. Ikora received a letter from Eris, who alongside the Young Wolf, the Drifter, and the resurfaced [[Elisabeth Bray|Exo Stranger]] was using Stasis to combat the Fallen. Her friend begged her to consider all they could do wielding the power of the Darkness against their enemies and to believe in Osiris' teaching of balance by assuaging the fears of those in the Tower who might fear using this new power.<ref>'''Bungie (2020/11/10)''', ''[[Destiny 2]]: [[Beyond Light]] - [[Lore]]: [[Lore:Regarding_Stasis#To_Ikora_Rey|Regarding Stasis - To Ikora Rey]]''</ref> Despite Eris' plea, Ikora and Zavala declared that the Vanguard's official stance was to ban the use of Stasis by Guardians.<ref>'''Bungie (2020/11/10)''', ''[[Destiny 2]]: [[Beyond Light]] - [https://www.ishtar-collective.net/interactions/commander-zavala-defender-of-light Defender of Light]''</ref> Ikora also ordered [[Nissa]] to travel to Europa and monitor the Pyramid to gather data.<ref>'''Bungie (2020/11/10)''', ''[[Destiny 2]]: [[Beyond Light]] - [[Starfarer 7M]]''</ref> Ikora and Zavala also sought to consolidate their resources by lifting Osiris' exile, allowing the Warlock to work officially with the Vanguard once more and return to the Last City.<ref>'''Bungie (2020/11/10)''', ''[[Destiny 2]]: [[Beyond Light]] - [[Fang of Xivu Arath]]''</ref>

During a meeting with Zavala, the two Vanguard commanders were interrupted by a communication from [[Petra Venj]]. The Awoken expressed her condolences for their losses, but Ikora only acknowledged her with a nod, intent on studying intelligence reports from Europa, the Tangled Shore, Luna, and other locations. However, when Petra stated that she was contacting them to share privileged information that could not leave their confidence, Ikora's interest was peaked and she questioned if it was related to Queen [[Mara Sov]]'s recent broadcast declaring she was returning to the Sol System. Petra stated it was from a separate message the Queen had sent to her, and Ikora carefully noted that they could not deny the Consensus pertinent information, while Zavala stated that if the situation warranted he could make a wartime decision to withhold it from them. Petra stated the Cabal were on the move once more, drawing Ikora's full attention, and that intercepted messages indicated they were dealing with a Hive disease. Ikora relayed a report from the Tangled Shore of an infected creature bleeding [[Soulfire]], which was supported by reports by Osiris of increased Hive activity. Concerned about the distances between the outbreak of the Hive disease, they speculated as to its origins. Ikora passed along a dream to Petra of a red-sky morning full of dread and suggested she pass it along to the [[Techeun]]s, but was unsure of its meaning. Petra asked for Guardian assistance in battling an outbreak in the Dreaming City, and Ikora suggested assigning [[Siegfried]], a Titan of the [[Praxic Order]] and friend of Aunor, to assist, and Petra thanked them for their assistance. Once Petra had disconnected, Ikora teased Zavala about his new openness to making deals and friends before the two agreed that the details of this new operation should be kept between them.<ref>'''Bungie (2020/11/10)''', ''[[Destiny 2]]: [[Beyond Light]] - [[Wild Hunt Armor (Titan)#Wild Hunt Helm|Wild Hunt Helm]]''</ref>

A new conflict soon began when [[Empress Caiatl]] arrived in the Sol System and sought to subjugate humanity and recruit the Guardians into her army following the [[Fall of Torobatl]] to the Hive God of War [[Xivu Arath, God of War|Xivu Arath]]. Negotiations between Zavala and the Empress swiftly collapsed, causing Ikora to begin gathering intelligence on the ''[[Halphas Electus]]'', a [[Imperial Land Tank]] that Caiatl had deployed on [[Nessus]]. She learned that it was key to whatever plans Caiatl had for the system and that [[Commander Dracus]], a war criminal formerly of the Red Legion, was commanding Caiatl's forces in the area, making him a priority target for elimination by the Young Wolf.<ref name="BB">'''Bungie (2021/2/9)''', ''[[Destiny 2]]: [[Season of the Chosen]] - [[Battlegrounds]]: [[Behemoth (Battleground)|Behemoth]]''</ref> As the [[Clash of the Chosen|conflict]] with Caiatl's [[Imperial Cabal]] escalated a task force was formed to eliminate her senior commanders under the leadership of Lord [[Saladin Forge]]. Osiris was also appointed to the task force, bringing with him a Hunter called [[Uldren Sov|Crow]], whom Ikora learned was the resurrected Uldren Sov. She supported Osiris in keeping this information secret, including from Zavala.<ref name="TRD">'''Bungie (2021/2/9)''', ''[[Destiny 2]]: [[Season of the Chosen]] - [[Lore]]: [[Lore:From the Front#V. The Restless Dead|From the Front V. The Restless Dead]]''</ref>

Ikora was astounded when Mithrax opened a pathway into [[The Outer Nexus]] of the [[Vex Network]] with his Splicer abilities for the Young Wolf to traverse, and the Kell explained that this was where they Vex kept their most heavily guarded secrets and assets. After the Young Wolf killed a [[Subjugated Curator|curator]] and took its [[Paradrome Cube|living data]] for analysis, Ikora detected that Vex signals were disappearing from the region all around them. As Mithrax granted them the data for study while he sought safety for his people, Ikora told him that she wished for those who died in the Skiff to be the last people he lost. She offered him and the House of Light safety within the Last City. The Kell was astounded by the offer and wondered if she could give it. Ikora vowed that they would have the Vanguard's protection and that anyone who disagreed with that could take it up with her, reassuring Mithrax who gratefully accepted the offer.<ref name="TLS/>

Though Mithrax and his people settled in the [[Botza Ruins]], turning it into the [[Eliksni Quarters]], her decision to bring the House of Light to live within the Last City's walls sparked discontent amongst the city denizens and the Consensus factions. Despite the criticism Ikora faced with her decision, the Guardians began working in earnest with Mithrax in training as Splicers, entering into the Outer Nexus to combat the Vex and gather any intel on how the Endless Night blanketed over the Last City. Ultimately, Mithrax would gain enough information from the Guardians' efforts that the Endless Night was created by [[Quria, Blade Transform]], the Axis Mind that had been Taken and now served [[Savathûn, the Witch Queen|Savathûn]], who disguised herself as Osiris after Sagria sacrificed herself to save him from Xivu Arath's [[High Celebrant of Xivu Arath|High Celebrant]]. Worse, her decision to continue the alliance with Eliksni House of Light led a paranoid Lakshmi-2 of the Future War Cult to spread messages to the Last City's citizenry, spreading fear and distrust towards the House of Light, which angered the Warlock Vanguard.  

Eventually, Lakshmi's broadcasts against the Eliksni led a fear-induced mob to vandalize the Eliksni Quarters and sabotage their ether supply. Despite this tragedy, Mithrax refuses to forsake his alliance with the Vanguard. Unable to stand for Lakshmi's fearmongering any longer, Ikora angerly interrupts the War Cult leader's latest broadcast, condemning Lakshmi's efforts to spread fear and reminding the people that humanity is not that different from the eliksni. They were once in a similar position in the past, as the Warlords of old were not that much different the Kells, and that with the House of Light, then the violence between humanity and eliksni can possibly be over. That humanity and eliksni can move forward together towards a brighter dawn.

Though the Guardians would succeed in slaying Quria with Mithrax's aid, Ikora would learn that Lakshmi intended to instigate a coup with her fellow faction leaders to oust the Vanguard and forcibly expel the Eliksni from the Last City. In her final broadcast, Lakshmi claimed she was aided by Osiris, who gifted her Vex technology to open a rift to banish the House of Light. Instead, however, the Vex came pouring through, killing all in their path, including Lakshmi herself. With the Last City and the eliksni under Vex attack, the Guardians quickly scrabbled to close the gate while Ikora aided Mithrax in protecting his people. With further aid from Saint-14, Zavala and Amanda Holliday, the House of Light was saved.

With their coup expose, New Monarchy and Dead Orbit gathered what supplies and loyalists they could and fled the city on Dead Orbit's fleet during the chaos. Future War Cult was disbanded with many of its former members defecting to the Vanguard as they were disillusioned with the path Lakshmi was taking them. Declaring an end to the age of Factions, Ikora proclaimed, with Mithrax, that despite the tragedy of the Vex attack, humanity and Eliksni can move forward together. However, hearing that Osiris aided Lakshmi in her efforts unnerved Ikora, and suspicion towards her old mentor grew when he disappeared during the Vex attack. To find out what her teacher had done, Ikora has the Guardians search for Osiris.

The Guardians were successful in finding a lead towards Osiris's whereabouts, which led them to the Reef. There, along with Saint-14 and Crow, the Guardian would find Osiris speaking with Mara Sov. However, to their shock and horror, Osiris would transform into the Witch Queen Savathûn herself, revealing that the Hive Goddess had been impersonating Osiris ever since he lost his Light to hide from her sister. Though Savathûn would be encased in a crystal prison by the Awoken Queen, she offered to return Osiris in exchange for excising her worm and remove the Taken Curse over the Dreaming City. Despite not trusting the notorious Hive God of Lies, the Guardians accepted her bargain at Mara Sov's insistence.

Not long after Savathûn's escape from the Reef, the Vanguard would receive word that Mars had suddenly returned after the Black Fleet's arrival led to its disappearance. Ikora immediately had her Hidden head to the red planet and begin an investigation on the planet's condition. They discover that the planet is afflicted by some form of "temporal distortion", wounds of time that allow viewers to see Mars as it was during the Golden Age. Further, the Hidden discovered a [[Relic (Mars)|structure]] that bears a resemblance to the Pyramids, something they call [[The Enclave]]. Ikora called Eris Morn to Mars to confirm this as she also traveled to Mars to see it for herself and to warn her team that the Cabal are mobilizing to reclaim lost territory.

Ikora arrived and met with Eris who confirmed the Enclave and the Relic within are related to the Pyramids but their attention is taken away when they notice the Cabal setting up a massive cannon nearby the Cradle but Eris Morn clarifies that the Cabal are not targeting them but Savathûn, her capital ship [[The Lure]] appearing. Almost immediately, Ikora called in the Young Wolf to lead the investigation on The Witch Queen's return. Though the Guardian ended up engaging the Red Legion, technically breaching the Vanguard's armistice with Empress Caiatl, they used their cannon to get themselves onto The Lure and from their make a disturbing discovery, Hive using the Light in some capacity. However, as they pursued Savathûn into her Throne World, they found something worse, a Hive Knight wielding Void Light and having their own Ghosts. As they traversed the Throne World, they confronted the Witch Queen who also wielded the Light and forces them out of her realm. Ikora calls in on the Young Wolf who reveals what they had encountered: a Lightbering Hive, leaving Ikora stunned that the Witch Queen managed to steal the Light.

To further help the Guardian in traversing the Throne World and learn more from the Witch Queen's memories, Ikora allows them to strengthen and hone their [[Deepsight]] abilities, guided by Eris. After Eris had guided them to the Europan Pyramid and strengthened their abilities, the Guardian would be contacted by Fynch informing them on another lead; another temple hidden beneath the outskirts of the Throne World, dedicated to Savathûn's past self, Sathona, the [[Temple of the Cunning]]. Ikora would introduce herself to Fynch at this time, much to the renegade's excitement. Fynch would explain that within the temple lies something of great importance to the Witch Queen nearby a statue of Sathona. The Guardian managed to infiltrate the temple despite the heavy Scorn presence and the illusionary tricks impeding them. At the statue, they find a calcified worm, the same one that Sathona had carried with her when she guided her siblings through the oceans of [[Fundament]], the Hive's original homeworld. However, the Guardian would nearly be killed by a powerful illusion of an Ahamkara and a poisoning in the air, leading the Guardian to make a hasty escape. Though Ikora would find the mission too much of a risk to put the Young Wolf's life on the line, she was nonetheless glad they gained something of value.

Following the Guardian's victory over the Lucent Brood, the death of [[Rhulk, Disciple of the Witness|Rhulk]] the first [[Disciples of the Witness|Disciple of the Witness]], and the formation of the [[The Coalition|Coalition]], the Vanguard would face the surprise return of The Leviathan, the personal vessel of Calus. Worse, the vessel was sending out a signal directed towards the Lunar Pyramid that formerly belonged to [[Nezarec, Final God of Pain|Nezarec]], causing the Nightmares to resurge, swarming the massive vessel as it hung derelict near Luna, tormenting all who got too close. Eris Morn was placed in charge of the operation, seeking a way to sever the connection Calus was attempting to make with the Pyramid, as it was discovered that Calus was seeking to become The Witness's newest Disciple. While Ikora didn't partake in the operation, she was nonetheless haunted by the Nightmare of her fallen friend, Cayde-6, who expressed scorn for her decision to welcome his murderer within the Vanguard's halls.

Following the Guardians besting Eramis in claiming the Relics, which contained body parts of Nezarec, Mithrax was able to transform their contents into a benign substance which was given to Osiris. The brew succeeded in bringing Osiris out of his coma, finally waking him. However, Osiris claimed to see visions from the Witch Queen's memories, regarding a [[Neomuna|city]] on [[Neptune]]. Ikora had her Hidden search the planet for the city Osiris spoke of but found nothing, leading Ikora to believe her former mentor may be compromised as a result of his possession from the Witch Queen. Angered, Osiris worked with Ana in repairing Rasputin so he could ask the Warmind of the city on Neptune.

The Black Fleet arrived at the Traveler, and Coalition forces engaged with the enemy. Ikora, Zavala, Osiris, Elsie, and Mara watched from the [[H.E.L.M.]]. They watched as the Traveler used a beam of Light to attack the Witness's flagship, [[Essence]]. Ikora saw a figure emerge from the ship, and questioned what it was. Mara informed her that it was the Witness. The Pyramid fleet sent out a resonant blast, preventing the Traveler from attacking. The blast hit the H.E.L.M., causing it to bring up an emergency shield block Ikora and her allies' view of the battle. Osiris realized the Witness discovered the location of [[The Veil|the Veil]], and infiltrated Calus's ship as he began to travel to Neptune. Ikora asked the Guardian to follow Osiris and help him protect the Veil, and warned them that he has no more lives to spare.<ref>'''Bungie (2023/2/28)''', ''[[Destiny 2]]: [[Lightfall]] - [[First Contact]]''</ref>

The Guardian entered the Spire, and Ikora warned them to be prepared for anything. They cleared the hostiles at the entrance, and Ikora informed them the way was clear. Further in the Spire, a recording from Savathûn played, saying that only a Hive can defeat Xivu Arath. Eris took this as meaning it was up to her to defeat the god, and Ikora questioned what she was about to do. Further yet after another recording, Eris insisted they must use the Sword Logic to defeat Xivu Arath, and Ikora insisted they must not play the Hive gods' games. After the Guardian cleared the hostiles from the Spire, Ikora questioned the changes to it, and Eris noted they now had access to [[Altars of Summoning|the oubliette]]. Eris informed the Guardian that they will use it to channel power to her and Ikora once again informed her that the plan was too dangerous.<ref name="Sav Spire">'''Bungie (2023/8/22)''', ''[[Destiny 2]]: [[Season of the Witch]] - [[Savathûn's Spire (activity)|Savathûn's Spire]]''</ref>

Ikora travelled with Immaru and the Guardian to the Witch's Echo to witness Eris's ritual. Ikora feared for Eris, and asked if she would be able to return to herself after the transformation. Eris asked if it mattered if she did. Ikora told her that she is falling into Savathûn's trap, but Eris told her that everything she does benefits the Coalition. Ikora watched as Eris transformed into a Hive.<ref>'''Bungie (2023/8/22)''', ''[[Destiny 2]]: [[Season of the Witch]] - [[Toil and Trouble (Quest)|Toil and Trouble]]''</ref>

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

{{Quote|I'm done burying my friends.|Ikora to her fireteam}}

 

 

Later, Ikora's concerns would be validated as Zavala would leave the camp in hopes of finding a way to destroy the Witness by giving himself to Darkness. She would eventually join the fireteam in their search for Zavala, where they would learn that the voices reaching out through the Veiled Statues were dissenting voices within the Witness's collective consciousness. Eventually, Ikora alongside Cayde, Crow, and Targe would find Zavala standing at a shrine entrance leading into a pool of Darkness. As she would slowly approach Zavala, Ikora would plead for him not to enter the shrine, however Zavala would ignore her warnings as he would enter into the pool of Darkness. Within the pool of Darkness, Zavala would receive a vision from the Witness and learn from the dissenters that it could be unmade at the ritual site where it was created. However the acquisition of this knowledge would not come at a cost as Targe would sacrifice his life to safe Zavala, allowing Ikora and her friends to pull him out of the pool of Darkness.<ref>'''Bungie (2024/6/4)''', ''[[Destiny 2]]: [[The Final Shape]] - [[Dissent]]''</ref>

 

Ikora and her friends would comfort Zavala and begin preparations to make their way to the ritual site where the Witness was created. While the Guardian would lead the way, Ikora and the others would follow behind due to Zavala now being Lightless. During their navigation to the ritual site, they are greeted by Mara Sov, who reveals that she had entered the Pale Heart alongside the remainder of the Coalition. Eventually Ikora alongside Zavala, Cayde, and Crow would arrive to the ritual site, providing cover for the Guardian as they dealt a crucial blow to the Witness before being teleported away. Upon killing the remainder enemy forces, Ikora and her allies would be confronted by the wounded Witness as it would state it had hoped they would come to understand, but they had chosen entropy. With the Witness transforming and furiously chasing them down the hallway, Ikora alongside her friends would flee towards the entrance. As Zavala was struck with a piece of the wall by the Witness, Ikora would help carry him to safety as she and her allies would be safely transported onto the H.E.L.M.<ref>'''Bungie (2024/6/4)''', ''[[Destiny 2]]: [[The Final Shape]] - [[Iconoclasm]]''</ref> Shortly after their escape, Ikora would speak to Mara as the Awoken Queen would reveal that the Witness had proclaimed itself the First Knife during her first encounter with it. Recognizing this concept from [[Lore:Unveiling|Unveiling]], Ikora and Mara would both contemplate over the true nature of the Witness.<ref>'''Bungie (2024/6/4)''', ''[[Destiny 2]]: [[The Final Shape]], [[Sparrow|Sparrow Lore]]: [[The First Knife]]''</ref>

 

Later, Ikora would speak with Zavala over their comms, revealing to him that Cayde does not intend to return to his position as Hunter Vanguard, but instead recommend Crow for the post.  As Ikora would remark that they had all grown to become different people, Zavala would prove her statement to be correct as he would ask her to teach him how to wield [[Stasis]]. Ikora would accept his request and order him to meet her at the camp to begin his training. Receiving a report from Crow of the [[House of Salvation]] converging on the Cradle, Ikora would send the Guardian and Mithrax to bring an end to their ambitions. Uncovering that the House of Salvation were harvesting Light from the Tree of Silver Wings, the Guardian disables the barrier and confronts [[Korha, the Hollow]], who Mithrax recognizes and furiously orders the Young Wolf to bring him to justice. With the Guardian foiling the harvesting operation and forcing Korha to retreat, Ikora asks Mithrax to explain who Korha is, with the Kell of Light merely revealing that he was a haunting figure from his past. Recognizing that Korha was too dangerous to be left alive, Ikora and Mithrax both agree to hunt this foe together.<ref>'''Bungie (2024/6/4)''', ''[[Destiny 2]]: [[The Final Shape]] - [[The Hollow, Part I]]''</ref> Tracking his location to [[Riis-Reborn]], Ikora would offer support through the comms while the Guardian and Mithrax pursued him into the Fallen settlement. Furthermore, Ikora received further information about Korha from the Hidden, learning that he was Eramis's right hand until they recaptured the Seraph Station. Eventually as they progressed further into Riis-Reborn, Mithrax would reveal to Ikora that Korha was responsible for the death of his mother, [[Inaaks]]. Confronting Korha at the [[Technocrat's Iron]], Mithrax would use a [[House Light Brig|Brig]] to crush the Captain, avenging Inaaks. Recognizing that Korha that been rendered into a hollowed vessel by the Witness, Ikora Mithrax to find peace with himself while thanking him for telling the story of his mother. With Mithrax expressing concern for [[Eido]]'s future and requesting that Ikora helped guide her, the Warlock Vanguard would assure him that he had her word.<ref>'''Bungie (2024/6/4)''', ''[[Destiny 2]]: [[The Final Shape]] - [[The Hollow, Part II]]''</ref>

 

Following their success at repelling the corruption within the Pale Heart, a fireteam of six Guardians infiltrate the Monolith and uproot the Witness's hold over the Traveler, forcing it to retreat.<ref>'''Bungie (2024/6/7)''', ''[[Destiny 2]]: [[The Final Shape]] - [[Salvation's Edge]]''</ref> During the final battle, Ikora would rally alongside the Coalition and the [[Lucent Brood]] (who had joined at their own agenda) where she would assist in eliminating the remainder of the Witness's forces while a fireteam of twelve Guardians would confront their ancient enemy. Despite its unfathomable power, the fireteam succeed in unmaking the Witness by utilizing the Traveler's Light, resulting in the Guardian's Ghost heroically perishing during the battle. However Cayde would use his Light to resurrect the Guardian's Ghost, resulting in him returning to the Traveler.<ref>'''Bungie (2024/6/8)''', ''[[Destiny 2]]: [[The Final Shape]] - [[Excision]]''</ref>

Departing from the Pale Heart and returning to the Last City, Ikora would sit on the edge of the Tower alongside Zavala and Crow. While Ikora remarked that she anticipated that tending this everlasting war would feel different, Crow would realize that they likely did not feel content with their victory as they had not yet celebrated. As the Guardian and their Ghost would arrive to join them in celebrating this prospering triumph, Ikora and her friends would send their paper lanterns into the sky along with the citizens of the Last City.

Before becoming Osiris' disciple, Ikora was one of the fiercest competitors in the Crucible. Lord Shaxx believed that Ikora's true home was the Crucible, though she would never admit it.<ref>'''Bungie (2017/8/9)''', ''[[Destiny 2]], [[Ankaa Seeker IV#Binary Pheonix Bond|Binary Phoenix Bond]]''</ref>

*Ikora was the first Guardian to have a twenty-five match winning streak in the Crucible.<ref>'''Bungie (2017/28/3)''', ''[[Destiny]]: [[Age of Triumph]], [[Grimoire]]: [[Grimoire:Allies/Legends & Mysteries#Ghost Fragment:Cayde-6|Ghost Fragment: Cayde-6]]''</ref>

*Should one have sided with the Vanguard during the Allegiance quest from [[Drifter]], Ikora handed out extra candy during the [[Festival of the Lost]] 2019 as thanks for the player's loyalty.

*''[[Destiny: Warmind (comic)|Destiny: Warmind]]'' {{Mo}}

*''[[Mysterious Logbook]]'' {{Mo}}

*''[[The Hidden Dossier]]'' {{Mo}}

*''[[Destiny Grimoire Anthology, Volume VII]]'' {{Mo}}